FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Paige Gehlhausen, Press Secretary
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Emily Mertz, Press Secretary Intern
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Brown: Bill to improve eyewitness identification accuracy passes Senate
STATEHOUSE (Feb. 20, 2025) — A bill authored by State Sen. Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne) that would create a statewide standard for eyewitness identification of suspects unanimously passed the Senate Thursday, Feb. 20.
Senate Bill 141 would establish a uniform, statewide standard for law enforcement agencies to follow in performing investigatory lineups with an eyewitness to identify a suspect. The bill includes language guiding agencies in how to select lineup "fillers" that resemble the eyewitness' report and, as much as possible, resemble the suspect in the lineup. The bill would also require a lineup investigator to make note of the level of confidence the eyewitness has in their determination of the suspect in the lineup. Finally, SB 141 would ensure a suspect cannot be included in a lineup if the only evidence connecting them to the crime is through a facial recognition technology match.
"SB 141 would help ensure the right person is held accountable for a crime while protecting innocent individuals from wrongful convictions," Brown said. "It is of the utmost importance that we protect Hoosiers' constitutional rights. This bill would help improve the fairness of our criminal justice system, and I am pleased to see support from my colleagues in the Senate. I hope to see its continued success as it moves over to the House."
The bill imitates the best practices for conducting eyewitness lineups that are followed by the Department of Justice and found in national law enforcement accreditation standards. Organizations like Americans for Prosperity Indiana, Indiana Public Defender Council, Innocence Project and Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic all support the bill.
"I am thankful to the organizations who worked closely with me to craft this great piece of legislation," Brown said. "I want to give a special thanks to Leon Benson, who came to testify in support of this bill during committee and shared his experience as a now exonerated person, as well as for his influence on the success of SB 141 so far."
As the 2025 session continues, Brown encourages residents of Senate District 15 to contact her with any questions or comments they may have. Brown can be reached by filling out a "Contact Me" form online at www.IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Brown or by phone at 800-382-9467.
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State Sen. Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne) represents Senate District 15,
which includes a portion of Allen County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
